Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso: Traditions in the Making [Hardcover]

John Cowley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521481384 | ISBN-13: 978-0521481380 | Publication Date: February 23, 1996

Starting from the days of slavery and following through to the first decades of the twentieth century, this book traces the evolution of Carnival and secular black music in Trinidad and beyond. Calypso emerged as the preeminent Carnival song form at the end of the nineteenth century and its association with the festival is investigated, as are the first commercial recordings by Trinidad performers. Considerable use is made of contemporary newspaper reports, colonial documents, travelogues, oral history and folklore, providing an authoritative treatment of a fascinating story in popular cultural history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...providing a thoroughly researched historical study of the origins and development of calypso from its roots in the 18th century to the present." T.E. Miller, Choice

"...[a] wealth of information and careful analysis." Errol Hill, American Historical Review

"...a rich compilation of raw data for the reconstruction of Trinidadian social history..." Peter Manuel, Journal of Social History

"John Cowley's Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso, a finely documented and important addition to the pool of writing on Trinidadian expressive culture, treats the early history of the first two elements of the triumvirate for which Trinidad is so famous. Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso provides just the kind of well-researched source material that is essential in such an endeavor and will be of great value to all concerned with Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean, and broader issues of expressive culture in the African diaspora." Eric Charry, Yearbook for Traditional Music

Book Description

Starting from the days of slavery and following through to the first decades of the twentieth century, this book traces the evolution of Carnival and secular black music in Trinidad and beyond. Calypso emerged as the pre-eminent Carnival song from the end of the nineteenth century and the early commercial recordings are discussed. Considerable use is made of contemporary newspaper reports. colonial documents, travelogues, oral history and folklore, providing an authoritative treatment of a fascinating story in popular cultural history.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 267 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (February 23, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521481384
• ISBN-13: 978-0521481380
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,856,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > History > Americas > Caribbean & West Indies > Trinidad and Tobago

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cultural nutrition, August 31, 2010

By 

crix - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso: Traditions in the Making (Paperback)

Before I purchased this book, I had this unquenchable thirst for how the carnival culture came to be in Trinidad & Tobago. What was canboulay? How did stickfighting originate? How did costumes come about? The music, the singing. As a Trinidadian, I felt it was my duty to have this knowledge. I spoke to my parents, older family members, calypsonians and anyone who had knowledge of our culture past and present. Then I bought "Carnival, Canboulay and Calypso; Traditions in the making." I couldn't put it down. There was an excitement in the learning process. I had no clue as to how Trinbago's culture evolved from then to now. I can only describe this book one way. "Excellent!"